THE STYLES AND BELIEFS OF RITUAL STUFF IN LUANG PRABANG, LAO PDR PJAEE, 18 (17) (2021) THE STYLES AND BELIEFS OF RITUAL STUFF IN LUANG PRABANG, LAO PDR Kwanhatai Thada1, Thanasit Chantaree2, Kittisan Sriraksa3 1,3Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University, 2 Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University, Thailand Email: [email protected] , [email protected] , [email protected] Kwanhatai Thada, Thanasit Chantaree, Kittisan Sriraksa. The Styles And Beliefs Of Ritual Stuff In Luang Prabang, Lao Pdr-- Palarch’s Journal Of Archaeology Of Egypt/Egyptology 18(17), 206-220. ISSN 1567-214x Keywords: Ritual Item, Style, Belief, Luang Prabang ABSTRACT The dissertation titled: The styles and beliefs of amulets in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR aimed to study the patterns and beliefs of amulets in Luang Prabang in Lao PDR, particularly in the fifth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh months (in Laos beliefs). The study was conducted with the qualitative by applying the concepts, and theoretical framework of Structural-functional and semiology theory then presented with the descriptive analysis. The study results indicated that the styles of the amulets had divided into five main perspectives: a) Functional features, which divided into three categories, i.e. 1) Amulets, 2) Scared, 3) Ritual items, b) Material features which divided into four categories i.e.1) Fresh item, 2) Processed item, 3) Durable item, and 4) Circulated item, c) Structural features which divided into three categories, i.e. 1) Single-unit, 2) Gathered unit, 3)Mixed unit, d) Invented features which divided into three categories, i.e. 1) Self-invented, 2) Co invented, 3) Purchased, e)Artistry features which divided into three categories, i.e. 1) Creation, 2) Neat, 3) Seamless composition. The ritual styles resulted from beliefs through creating and practicing from generation to generation with experience and understanding. In terms of beliefs, the study categorized the beliefs into two stages: a) Community's beliefs: the beliefs about spirit, i.e. Tai and Pan ghost, Muang ghost or Ancestral spirits, Naga Beliefs, about Auspicious beliefs, b) Social beliefs: consisted of 1) Religious beliefs—Brahmanism and Buddhism, 2) Cosmology beliefs, and 3) Astrology beliefs. These beliefs were both tangible and present through ritual items, and the abstract form, which contained a single meaning and significant meaning which combined the complex beliefs and culture along with the changes in Luang Prabang society, resulted in a cultural variety in meanings and continuing the influence in the next generation. 206 THE STYLES AND BELIEFS OF RITUAL STUFF IN LUANG PRABANG, LAO PDR PJAEE, 18 (17) (2021) INTRODUCTION The origin ritual item remains unclear as in the assumption beliefs that humans had developed and turned to be civilized and had the ritual ceremony. This assumption can link to the beliefs in Lao ethnic and the development of the styles and beliefs of the amulet in the past. Since the Lao ethnic had a long history, the Mekong river and the Laos ethnic had settled down in the Mekong river basin, as found in the Plain of Jars park in Xieng Khouang district, which reflected the greatest developed culture of the Lao in the north. A large stone jar assumed to be a funeral jar, as found a skeleton with bronze and iron utensils with diamonds, and the crop tied and wrapped by gold (Kham Champakaewmanee, 1980 as cited in Sunet Photisarn, 2015). Similarlry, Sunet Photisarn (2015) noted that another historical trait of Lao was found in Pa Ko archaeological park, which aged around the 200-300 AD, at the rim of Nam Ngum river close to the Vientiane capital of Lao PDR, between the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century AD, the discovery has found antique utensils made of metal and bronze, iron maker, woven fabric, pottery which indicated that human society had grouped along the riverside. In the funeral ceremony, the pottery and utensils had found in the tombs in a similar period but in different areas. Thus, it can summarize that the funeral is a ritual that represents the Mekong ancestors’ spirits which traditionally influenced the Southeast beliefs before Buddhists and Brahmins from India. Therefore, the archaeological evidence in the prehistoric period had shown the importance of the tools as of the high value in the ritual ceremonies. Before the establishment of the Lan Xang kingdom according to Khun Borom tale, there was a leggend about the establishment of Luang Prabang which mentioned two hermits called Ammala and Yotika who stayed in the mountain called ‘Phou Phalue Si’ and ‘Phou Suang’ and turned to ‘Phou Si’ (Vongdala & Lattanasuvannaphon, 2016). All the hermits who were the origin of all the State City in the Mekhong region and lay the base for the cities around this area were from India (Photisan, 2015). Later in the reign of king Fah Khum as in the Lao Chronicle in Mahasila Veerawong (1953) staged that during the colonization before the construction of the kingdom, king Fah Ngum paid a visit from the North district to the Noi district as mentioned that ‘...The kind had paid a visit outside the palace and conducted the ritual ceremony. He was delightful and then bestowed the name of the Noi district to the Kang Yao district…’ The tale confirmed the existence of the ritual ceremonies in the elite society before the Lan Xang kingdom's restoration. The ceremony was related to the belief of “kwan”, which was the common culture of all the nations within the Southeast (Wongted, 2017), reflected the esteem welcome. When King Fah Ngum ascended the throne as the king in the Lan Xang kingdom in 1896. After taking up the throne for one year, he attacked Chiang Saen district to expand the territory to the Vientiane capital and held the Maha Phiti Chaiya Phisek ceremony. ‘... Organized seven days and nights, by killing 10 elephants, 1,000 cows, 2,000 buffaloes for the celebration ...’ The main idea has represented the sacrifice by slaughtering animals for the ceremony in the ruling class, which 207 THE STYLES AND BELIEFS OF RITUAL STUFF IN LUANG PRABANG, LAO PDR PJAEE, 18 (17) (2021) consumed many elephants, cows, and buffaloes. In addition, king Fah Ngum also provided a third address that ‘... When second months use for worshipping home to know bad or good. In three years, Chiang Dong and Chiang Thong would pay respect to obtained Than Fah, Than Kom, Than Sang, Than Thueng: Thao Nyer, Thao Lai, Ma Yha Ngam, Mae Mod, including the angels and guardians, etc. The Phu Khaoka, Ai Mah, Thao Kong stayed in Nong Lum Phu at Pha Luang. When he arrived safely, he would offer worship of the spirit and return to the motherland when it about time in the first month. The person who not believe the rule might be the rival. Therefore, please keep responded with this command it was the traditional customs…’ The passage mentioned of the worship of the related spirits, Phee Fah and Phee Tan, Phi Dum or ancestral spirits, Mahesak spirit of the city pillar, which is to be practiced as part of the Heet tradition (the tradition that had been practiced until people are familiar with it, cited in Buasawed, 2002) supporting the belief that king Fah Ngum and the people within the Lan Xang Kingdom held the traditional belief in spirits (Thammawat, n.d.) and practice the Heet, which Thammawat (n.d.) observed that in those chronocles, the reason for people held onto the belief in spirits reflected a kind of belief that functioned as a tool to govern the people in that period and to gather people together from the other province to show their loyalty. Later, Theravada Buddhism from Khmer had spread out resulted in the traditional combination between spirit, Brahmin, and Buddhism beliefs. In the reign of the king Phraya Bodhisalarat had invited the Tripitaka and the monks in Langavong from Lanna in 1527 and then abort the beliefs in Phee Fah Phee Than and demolished all the spiritual items and building and built a temple. The Buddhism temples were constructed and have continued to flourish until the reign of king Suriyawongsa Thammikarat and reached the most prosperous in 1641. When the king had been in peace, the king had continually maintained and changed Heet 12 in Buddhism (Sunet Photisarn, 2015). The Heet 12 consisted of the critical calendar and the ritual ceremony in Buddhism as follows. In the First month, asks the monks to enter the karma, Second makes Khun Khao, Third makes Khao Jee (Makha Bucha merit), Fourth makes Bun Pha Wade, Fifth make Monk statues watering, Sixth makes Fire rocket merit (Visakha Bucha), Eighth makes the begin of Buddhist Lent, Nineth makes Kha Pradubdin, Tenth makes Khao Salak (Khao Sak), elventhth makes the end of Buddhist Lent, Twelfth makes a worship to Phra That Si Tham Hai Sok. In the post-government change (1893-1995) from a monarchy to a socialist democracy to a republic, the Buddhism in Luang Prabang is flexible, the numbers of temple has occurred such as Wat Xieng Thong along with the rose- colored worship hall located in the southeast of the temple sanctuary after the restoration in 1957 (Worralak Bunyasurat, 2012). The discovery had found that the stained glass had decorated on the outside wall showing the story of Thao Siew Sawat and way of life. The picture in the wall appeared the tray with pedestal and placed on the front between the villagers sitting around while pay respect to the altar, which stamped with a spire. There are images of people wearing god-like garments and Chada (crown) sit and use ritual item to pay for 208 THE STYLES AND BELIEFS OF RITUAL STUFF IN LUANG PRABANG, LAO PDR PJAEE, 18 (17) (2021) worship.